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Saturday, May 11, 2013

Your top green kitchen sink options

Sinks are an absolute when it comes to a kitchen space. So, using some of the most environmentally friendly alternatives is to be regarded as a genuine obligation if you want to become really green about your beloved home. As the more conventional kitchen sinks are made from acrylics, stone, porcelain and stainless steel, you will find it difficult to find a sink material that may work well in your eco-friendly home. Here are some options for you to consider in order to make sure that your kitchen project is an earth friendly, green and sustainable one.

Concrete kitchen sinks have already been here for quite some time now but they are becoming more and more popular due to the green trend. So, the manufacturers have already started to mix recycled materials such as recycled porcelain, 100% post consumer glass, organic compounds and coal fly ash in order to come up with extremely durable and beautiful designs that match every green requirement. Portland cement was a main component in the case of such recycled kitchen sinks but due to its high levels of CO2 emissions, some manufacturers have already switched to using a ceramic cement in order to get the necessary compositions for the recycled sinks.

For instance, Lithistone and Vitrastone are among the compositions that are based on ceramic cement. Ceramic cement uses less energy when compared to the Portland cement – actually, it uses 30-40% less energy thus reducing the undesirable carbon footprint of the kitchen sinks manufactured from it. The ceramic cement matrix sinks are likely to be totally VOC free – little or even no off gassing is to be expected. For instance, most of the recycled porcelain and glass is sourced locally in order to reduce the carbon footprint.

Another interesting idea used in the case of the eco-friendly sinks is the constant use of a wide range of organics in the necessary mixtures of materials. For instance, materials such as fly ash, recycled porcelain and rice hulls are used in order to provide extra design elements and color to every kitchen sink design. The vast majority of these eco-friendly sinks have sealers applied on them right before delivery. Such an eco-friendly kitchen sink will also require an extra maintenance – consider occasional waxing in order to preserve water repellence, sheen and original color. For instance, you should try and use a natural wax (Carnauba wax) in order to maintain your kitchen sink made from cement matrix.

Recycled metals are also used for designing kitchen sinks that are environmentally friendly. For instance, by using industrial scrap aluminum and post consumer copper, an eco-friendly sink is melted down and cast right into special silicone molds in order to form a wide range of designs and shapes. The recycled bronze and aluminum sinks are usually made from a high level of post consumer scrap – this level can reach even 90-100% of the composition. Such kitchen sinks are already available in various styles, finishes and designs. A kitchen sink made from recycled materials will also take on a genuine natural patina to its surface over time.

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